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srflongago
Registered User
(12/4/02 1:26 pm)
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Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
A great disciple of SriYukteswar and Yogananda, died at age of 95 December 3, 2002
http://www.kriya.org/baba_health.htm
http://www.kriya.org/

MastersChela
Registered User
(12/4/02 3:12 pm)
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Re: Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
This is truly the end of an era...

Hariharananda was Sri Yukteshwar's last living disciple. It makes you feel a bit "on your own" in some ways, doesn't it...

The world is moving on, deeper into Dwapara Yuga... It seems there's so much tumult going on right now, so much unsteadiness. I feel sympathy for those who do not have a bedrock like Kriya to fall back on.

Ringbearer7
Registered User
(12/4/02 6:41 pm)
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Re: Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
No disrespect intended toward the departed soul but I think there is considerable debate as to whether Hariharananda was really a disciple of Swami Sri Yukteswarji. Anybody can make such claims but some sources I know from India indicate that it isn't so - he did not arrive on the scene until a couple years after Sri Yukteswarji's passing. Apparently SRF claims that Hariharananda was initiated by Swami Satyanandaji but I cannot be sure if this is true.

In any case, good journeys and peace to his soul.

MastersChela
Registered User
(12/4/02 9:18 pm)
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RE: the subject of considerable debate
Ringbearer said:
==============================================
I think there is considerable debate as to whether Hariharananda was really a disciple of Swami Sri Yukteswarji
==============================================

It seems that many things one might say on this forum are the subjects of considerable debate :) ...

What's the story behind this? His website/disciples/he himself (I assume) all claim that he was first given Kriya by Sri Yukeshwar... Why must we assume that he's not being honest? Also: what would the motives be for making something like that up? Is it any more honorable to be a disciple of Yukeshwar than a disciple of Yogananda or Satyananda? I don't really see how it is, as they were all self-realized Yogis... So what's the deal, yo?

Edited by: MastersChela at: 12/4/02 9:19:18 pm
srflongago
Registered User
(12/5/02 4:38 am)
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Re: Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
Hariharananda died at 95, was born about 1907. He said he met Sriyukteswar when he was 25, that is, in 1932. Sriyukteswar was certainly alive and active at that time.

wholetruth
Registered User
(12/5/02 8:40 am)
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Re: Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
Ringbearer:

According to your logic, there must be "considerable debate" as to whether all those who claim to be disciples of Yogananda are indeed such.

Ringbearer7
Registered User
(12/5/02 9:29 am)
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Re: Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
This is just what I have heard from sources in India who knew people who were there at that time (while Sri Yukteswarji was still alive.) Anyways, I choose to trust these sources...I doubt there is any conclusive proof one way or the other however so believe what you want.

redpurusha
Registered User
(12/5/02 10:03 am)
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Re: Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
I can't say for sure if Hariharananda was initiated by Sri Yukteswar or not, he lived to be 95 so he was around while Sri Yukteswar was teaching in India, so it is very possible. I wish him well on his journey Home.

Edited by: redpurusha at: 6/3/05 12:02 pm
MastersChela
Registered User
(12/5/02 4:00 pm)
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Re: Conclusive Proof
QUOTE:
==============================================
This is just what I have heard from sources in India who knew people who were there at that time (while Sri Yukteswarji was still alive.) Anyways, I choose to trust these sources...I doubt there is any conclusive proof one way or the other however so believe what you want.
==============================================

I never met Hariharananda, but he DID attain Nirbikalpa Samadhi, the highest Yoga attainable in the physical body. He claims that he was Yukeshwarji's disciple. I accept that as "conclusive proof." My question from before has yet to be answered: What motivation is there for him to lie? His age is well within the range to have been at Yukeshwar's Ashram during the Paramguru's lifetime. You say you've heard from people who've heard from people who....... Come on, if a great soul tells you who his Guru was, isn't that enough? I do not think that the distrust of SRF needs to extend to every spiritual teacher out there. What did Hariharananda do in his lifetime to make it seem to you that he was less than honest? Why are these other "sources" so much more believeable than a Kriya Master? On his website, it says that he was put in charge of one of Yukteshwar's ashrams. Is this also untrue? I would think if it was, it would be easy to discover "conclusive evidence" on such a documentable fact as this... And if it was found to be true, one must ask why a "Johnny come lately" would be chosen over a direct disciple to run the Master's ashram after his passing...

I hope this doesn't come off as attacking you. I just want to know why we must automatically be skeptical of every little thing that a spiritual teacher says. I agree that one must buffer themselves from becoming a part of a cult or being brainwashed into believing anything, but this seems like the smallest of issues. I'm not a devotee of Hariharananda, and I don't know much about him one way or the other except what I've seen on www.kriya.org I don't care really if he WAS Yukeshwar's disciple or not. I just wonder why we should distrust what he said. What is his motive for lying?

Ringbearer7
Registered User
(12/5/02 7:11 pm)
Reply
Re: Conclusive Proof
(This message was left blank)

Edited by: Ringbearer7 at: 12/6/02 4:04:47 pm
wholetruth
Registered User
(12/6/02 8:56 am)
Reply
Re: Conclusive Proof
Bottom Line:

May he rest in peace or cosmic consciousness or whatever his level of awareness. May all his disciples continue to grow spiritually and feel love for God and for all. He seems to have lived his life in a worthy fashion and to have been a source of blessings towards others. What more can we ask?

username
Registered User
(12/9/02 8:33 pm)
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from kriya yoga discusssion board - death notice
(no subject)
IP: 160.94.154.180
Posted on 12/9/2002 at 07:56:12 PM by norman

I know that news of this Guru's death was posted here last week. I found this news story for anyone that may have an interest or be a devotee.

Spiritual leader of Kriya Yoga movement dies
2002-12-09 Published by moreover Gathered by Staff Reporter
MIAMI,DECEMBER 9: On a bed in a cool, candlelit room of an immaculate Redland property adorned with fruit trees and rose bushes rests the body of Swami Paramahamsa Hariharananda. Monks have been flying in from around the world this week to stand vigil for the guru of Kriya Yoga, who died - only in the physical sense, they say - at age 95 Tuesday of pneumonia at Baptist Hospital. He had lived in South Dade for five years and his global organization is headquartered there.Born Robindranath Bhattacharya in West Bengal, India, in 1907, Hariharananda is said to have memorized all the mantras of Hinduism before he was 5 years old. By 12 he was learning yoga. In 1938 he renounced the world and began the life of an ascetic monk. Hariharananda was taught by a disciple of Paramahamsa Yogananda, the guru who is credited with devising a modern system of yoga and spreading it to the west. Yogananda, who died in 1952, penciled one of yoga's most well-received books, "The Autobiography of a Yogi." Hariharananda's Redland-based Kriya Yoga Institute says he and the popular yogi met in 1935, but an organization Yogananda founded said there's no record the two met.

*story taken from:

username
Registered User
(12/9/02 8:36 pm)
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Re: from kriya yoga discusssion board - death notice
Paramahamsa Hariharananda, spiritual leader of Kriya Yoga


By Charles Rabin, Knight Ridder, 12/7/2002

IAMI - On a bed in a cool, candlelit room of an immaculate Redland property adorned with fruit trees and rose bushes rests the body of Swami Paramahamsa Hariharananda.


Monks have been flying in from around the world this week to stand vigil for the guru of Kriya Yoga, who died - only in the physical sense, they say - at age 95 Tuesday of pneumonia at Baptist Hospital. He had lived in South Dade for five years and his global organization is headquartered there.

Now the reincarnation of ''Baba'' - or father, as he was affectionately known - begins. ''He chose his time of death. So now his soul leaves the body,'' said Scott Salzman, 30, a university student in Colorado who came to pay tribute.

''The soul will take on a new body that it chooses. That is the Yogi belief - that a soul is on a continuous path of learning,'' said Paris-born Swami Sarveshwarananda Giri, one of the half-dozen monks visiting Thursday.

Born Robindranath Bhattacharya in West Bengal, India, in 1907, Mr. Hariharananda is said to have memorized all the mantras of Hinduism before he was 5 years old. By 12 he was learning yoga. In 1938, he renounced the world and began the life of an ascetic monk.

Mr. Hariharananda was taught by a disciple of Paramahamsa Yogananda, the guru who is credited with devising a modern system of yoga and spreading it to the west.

Yogananda, who died in 1952, penciled one of yoga's most well-received books, ''The Autobiography of a Yogi.'' Mr. Hariharananda's Redland-based Kriya Yoga Institute says he and the popular yogi met in 1935, but an organization Yogananda founded said there's no record the two met.

''But he was authorized to teach by Yogananda, probably through a letter. He received Kriya Yoga through a disciple of Yogananda,'' said Lauren Landress, spokeswoman for the Self Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles.

By 1959, Mr. Hariharananda took his formal monastic vows and was given his yogi name. Fifteen years later, he began traveling to the west to teach, first through Europe, then onto the United States, South America, and Canada.

Kriya is a small but influential branch of yoga that combines breathing, meditation, and various postures to achieve mental and physical health.

Not a religion, and accepting people of all faiths, Kriya followers believe spiritual energy is drawn through the crown of the head, and that concentration on breath draws one closer to God.

There is no real hierarchy in Yoga, but Mr. Hariharananda was considered one of its masters, a man who taught nonstop around the world and could reach Nirvikalpa Samadhi, a breathless, pulseless state.

''He's been my spiritual guide,'' said disciple Katharine Wiebe. ''My spiritual master. He's the most passionate, loving person I've ever encountered.''

Thursday, Mr. Hariharananda lay on his bed, arms crossed, his head resting on an orange pillow, his body covered with an orange cloth. The scent of flowers and incense filled the room.

Orange, explained Sarveshwarananda, represents fire.

''When you become a monk, you symbolically burn your bad past, and are given a new name,'' he said.

Handpicked to fill Mr. Hariharananda's shoes will be Prajnanananda, a 43-year-old monk who has been willed to oversee Baba's vast organization.

The two met when Prajnanananda was a young college student in India. Prajnanananda said Mr. Hariharananda chose the South Dade site as home because of its proximity to South America, where he did much of his work, and because its Indialike climate reminded him of home.

''I chose him as my master, and he chose me as his successor,'' said Prajnanananda. ''I'll carry out his activities and mission to spread technique, and bring peace among humans. He was full of love, spiritual calmness, and power.''

Today, there are 105 nonprofit Kriya Yoga centers in the United States, Canada, South America, India, Australia, and Europe, controlled by Mr. Hariharananda's Kriya Yoga Institute.

To make ends meet, many, like the 5-acre South Dade complex, offer lodging for $15 a night and $5 meals.

Mr. Hariharananda is now said to be in a state of mahasamadhi, or final conscious union with God.

Having sworn to celibacy, he had no immediate family.

Next week his body will be flown to a monastery he founded in Orissa, India, where he will be buried.

username
Registered User
(12/9/02 8:40 pm)
Reply
Re: from kriya yoga discusssion board - death notice
Spiritual leader of Kriya Yoga dies at 95

By Charles Rabin
Knight Ridder Newspapers


MIAMI — On a bed in a cool, candlelit room of an immaculate Redland property adorned with fruit trees and rose bushes rests the body of Swami Paramahamsa Hariharananda.

Monks have been flying in from around the world this week to stand vigil for the guru of Kriya

Yoga, who died — only in the physical sense, they say — at age 95 Tuesday of pneumonia at a Miami hospital. He had lived in South Dade for five years, and his global organization is headquartered there.

Now the reincarnation of "Baba" — or father, as he was affectionately known — begins. "He chose his time of death. So now his soul leaves the body," said Scott Salzman, 30, a Colorado college student who came to pay tribute.

"The soul will take on a new body that it chooses. That is the Yogi belief — that a soul is on a continuous path of learning," said Paris-born Swami Sarveshwarananda Giri, one of the half-dozen monks visiting yesterday.

Born Robindranath Bhattacharya in West Bengal, India, in 1907, Hariharananda is said to have memorized all the mantras of Hinduism before he was 5 years old. By 12 he was learning yoga. He renounced the world in 1938 and began the life of an ascetic monk.

Hariharananda was taught by a disciple of Paramahamsa Yogananda, the guru credited with devising a modern system of yoga and spreading it to the West.

Yogananda, who died in 1952, penciled one of yoga's most well-received books, "The Autobiography of a Yogi." Hariharananda's Redland-based Kriya Yoga Institute says he and the popular yogi met in 1935, but an organization Yogananda founded said there's no record the two met.

"But he was authorized to teach by Yogananda, probably through a letter. He received Kriya Yoga through a disciple of Yogananda," said Lauren Landress, spokeswoman for the Self Realization Fellowship in Los Angeles.

By 1959, Hariharananda took his formal monastic vows and was given his yogi name. Fifteen years later he began traveling to the West to teach, first through Europe, then on to the United States, South America and Canada.

Kriya is a small but influential branch of yoga that combines breathing, meditation and various postures to achieve mental and physical health.

Not a religion, and accepting people of all faiths, Kriya followers believe spiritual energy is drawn through the crown of the head and that concentration on breath draws one closer to God.

There is no real hierarchy in Yoga, but Hariharananda was considered one of its masters, a man who taught nonstop around the world and could reach Nirvikalpa Samadhi, a breathless, pulseless state.

Hand-picked to fill Hariharananda's shoes will be Prajnanananda, a 43-year-old monk who has been willed to oversee Baba's vast organization.

Hariharananda is now said to be in a state of mahasamadhi, or final conscious union with God.

Having sworn to celibacy, he had no immediate family.



Copyright © 2002 The Seattle Times Company

AtmaSadhaka
Registered User
(6/17/05 12:39 am)
Reply
Re: Death of Paramhansa Hariharananda
Hariharananda's first guru was the renowned householder Sri Bijaykrishna Chattopadhyaya of Kali Kundu Lane, Howrah, whom he met at the tender age of twelve and was inititated into Jnanayoga by. It was Sri Chattopadhyaya who first directed the young Hariharananda to Sri Yukteswarji. The Indian sources that I have state that by all accounts Sri Yukteswar was impressed by the young sadhaka and initiated him into the first Kriya and under whom he studied astrology, astronomy and palmistry. Sri Yukteswar recommended that he enter KararAshram at Puri, but Hariharananda did not at first take this advice. He ignored his guru's wishes and it was not until after Sri Yukteswar's mahasamadhi that he eventually made it to Karar. This is why some may think he never met Sri Yukteswar.
Best wishes

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